2003 BMW 3 Series
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 489 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 21 3 Series model years with reports.
Of the 2003 reports, 17 involved a crash and 21 involved a fire. 26 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
489 reports, newest first.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2016
TAKATA RECALL MY CAR AS I WAS DRVING WAS HARD TO TURN MAKING ANOISE
Air bags, Jun 22, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 08/17/16*LJ
Air bags, Jun 14, 2016
JTAKATA RECALL CAMPAIGN NO 15V-318 DRIVER-SIDE FRONT AIR BAG MODULE RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL JULY 2015. AS OF 6/2016 STILL NO ACTION TAKEN BY BMW. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM BMW CONCERNING REPAIR.
Air bags, Jun 2, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, May 16, 2016
EVER SINCE THE TAKATA AIR BAG ALERT WAS ISSUED BY NHTSA AND BMW, I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA REPRESENTATIVE, [XXX] FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT. AFTER MUCH DELAYS AND CORRESPONDENCE INCLUDING TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, ALMOST A YEAR AFTER FIRST NOTICE, SHE HAD A DEALER, CREVIER BMW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG WITH ANOTHER TAKATA AIRBAG AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE UNTIL A CORRECT REPLACEMENT WAS AVAILABLE. SEE BELOW EMAIL OF APRIL 26, 2016. "GOOD AFTERNOON [XXX], I AM FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU YET ONCE AGAIN ON THE AVAILABILITY OF THE 'RIGHT' REPLACEMENTS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE) OF THE TAKATA AIR BAGS FOR MY 2003, E46. AS YOU KNOW IT HAS BEEN 19 MONTHS SINCE THE INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT (RECALL CAMPAIGN N0. 14V-428, SEPTEMBER 2014) AND MONTHS SINCE YOU WERE KIND AS TO ARRANGE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION FOR ME AT CREVIER BMW DEALERSHIP. I AM STILL VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN THE ACTUAL REAL SOLUTION. I AM SURE THE NHTSA WOULD NOT BE HAPPY TO HEAR OF SUCH LONG DELAY AND LACK OF ANY INFORMATION FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA AS TO WHEN CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT A SOLUTION. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. [XXX] " AFTER MORE DELAYS IN GETTING A REPLY, SHE IS NOW REFERRING ME TO YOUR WEBSITE: "GOOD MORNING [XXX], THE MOST UP TO DATE DETAILS ON TAKATA IS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. KIND REGARDS, [XXX]" I AM ABSOLUTELY FRUSTRATED WITH BMW AND THEIR DELAYING TACTICS AND TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE CUSTOMERS' SAFETY. I AM REQUESTING THAT YOU INTERVENE ON MY BEHALF, COMPEL BMW TO PROVIDE A REAL AND APPROPRIATE SOLUTION AND STOP THESE DELAYS. OTHER MANUFACTURES SUCH AS HONDA HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED AND TAKEN CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BUT BMW SEEMS TO DISCARD THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AND IGNORES YOUR DIRECTIVES. IN THEIR LETTER OF JUNE 19, 2014 TO YOU, THEY COMMIT TO REPLACING DEFECTIVE PART BUT DO NOT DO SO. PLEASE ADVISE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, May 11, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, May 11, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 3251. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Apr 26, 2016
TAKATA RECALL.... I AM DRIVING IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE DUE TO DRIVERS AIRBAG RECALL AND NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A GOOD FEELING. I WORRY EACH TIME I GET IN MY CAR AND DRIVE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP SAID NO PARTS AND NO LOANER VEHICLES. SO I DRIVE AND WORRY. SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME ON 4-22-16 AND I BARELY MISSED THEIR CAR AND THOUGHT HOW AWFUL THIS COULD HAVE TURNED OUT, IF I HAD HIT THEM, T-BONING THEM, MY AIRBAG WOULD HAVE OPENED AND INJURED ME AND/OR KILLED ME. I GET HOME AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I NEVER HEARD FROM THEM SINCE LAST JULY'S FIRST RECALL WHEN THEY TOLD ME I WOULD GET A NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS WHERE AVAILABLE. STILL NO PARTS, I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR. I AM A VICTIM OF "WORRY".THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE REP. WAS NOT VERY CONCERNED NOR HELPFUL. SHE MUST BE NOT DRIVING A CAR WITH A "DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG THAT IS DEFECTIVE" AND UNSAFE.
Air bags, Apr 26, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V428000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED IN 2014. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Air bags, Apr 20, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Apr 18, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Apr 14, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Apr 11, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A TIME FRAME THAT THE PART WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/26/16*LJ UPDATED 06/01/16.*JB
Air bags, Apr 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Air bags, Apr 8, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330XI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/15/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS, SINCE THE RECALL WAS FIRST INITIATED AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. UPDATED 06/16/16.*JB
Air bags, Apr 6, 2016
TAKATA RECALL MY FAMILY DRIVES A 2003 BMW 330I. WE RECEIVED NOTICE OF THE AIRBAG RECALL OVER 6 MONTHS AGO, BUT THE DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIR. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE ARE DRIVING A TICKING BOMB. WHEN WILL BMW BE FORCED TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS?
Air bags, Apr 4, 2016
"TAKATA RECALL" THE DRIVERS DOOR AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF . SO WE TOOK THE CAR TO BMW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE. WE WERE GIVEN A RECALL # 15V318 , ITS OVER A YEAR WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR CAR TO BE REPAIRED AND WHEN WE CALL BMW AT 1-800-831-1117 TO CHECK WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY WILL GET TO IT IN GOOD TIME SO WE SHOULD WAIT, IT IS NOW APRIL HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE TO WAIT? NO ONE CAN GIVE US AN ANSWER
Air bags, Mar 29, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 330CI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 29, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 25, 2016
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V318000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Air bags, Mar 25, 2016
TAKATA INFLATORS VIN [XXX] 2003 BMW 325I KATA INFLATORS , HELLO , I'M [XXX] AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH BMW AND ITS SAFETY , I HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR MY SAFETY RECALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG ON MY BMW 325I 2003 SINCE DECEMBER OF 2015, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE READY BY SPRING, I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CHANGE THE DATE UNTIL THE END OF SUMMER NOT GIVING A SPECIFIC DATE , OR HANG UP ON MY CALL. I THINK THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAS A RECALL IT SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN KNOWING THAT I'M RISKING MY LIFE OR OTHERS LIVES . BMW HAS BEEN REJECTING THE REPAIR SINCE EARLY DECEMBER . IF THEN WHEN WILL THEY REPAIR ? AND WHEN WILL THEY PROVIDE ME A TRANSPORTATION IN THE MEANWHILE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Service brakes, Mar 23, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW 325I. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRUMS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,100.
Exterior lighting, Mar 21, 2016
DRIVING AT NIGHT HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE WITH OUT RISK. THE ZKW XENON HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME SO DIM THAT THE FOG LIGHTS NOW PROVIDE MORE ILLUMINATION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN TRACED TO BURNED/DISCOLORED PLASTIC REFLECTOR BOWLS ON BOTH SIDES WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE BEING SLIGHTLY WORSE. AFTER RESEARCH IT APPEARS THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD IN ZKW HEADLIGHTS. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS HERE AND IT APPEARS BMW ALSO REALIZED THE PROBLEM AND HAD ZKW SWITCH TO METAL REFLECTOR BOWLS ON NEWER MODELS YET OFFER NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN BUY COMPLETE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY'S TO THE TUNE OF $1200 A SIDE. MIGHT A POSSIBLE RECALL MOTIVATE BMW TO AT LEAST OFFER THE INDIVIDUAL PART. I UNDERSTAND THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST 13 YEARS OLD BUT TO TREAT A BLATANT SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS IS RIDICULOUS. NHTSA PLEASE HELP SOLVE THIS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM.
Power train, Mar 19, 2016
BOUGHT 2003 BMW 325I BRAND NEW. AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 4 YEARS (39,800MILIES) IT STARTED MAKING A THUMB SOUND AND STARTED LOSING TRANSMISSION POWER AND THE GEAR INDICATION LIGHT TURNS ON. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. IT WAS ALWAYS HAPPENING UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I CAN NOT USE THE CAR SPECIALLY DURING COLD WEATHER. THIS PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREET WHILE IN MOTION. MOST OF THE TIME THE CAR IS IN THE GARAGE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT AT ONLY 39,800 MILES, THIS CAR IS GOING TO HAVE SUCH A MAJOR PROBLEM. BUT I BELIEVE THIS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. THIS CAR STILL LOOKS MINT BECAUSE OF RARE USAGE.
Air bags, Mar 8, 2016
PURCHASE A 2003 BMW 325I ON 11-18-2016 . UNABLE TO TAKE POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER DUE TO THE OUTSTANDING TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. THE DEALER IS NOT A BMW STORE AND I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR LETTING A CUSTOMER GET INTO A UNSAFE VEHICLE. BMW IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET ON THE REPAIR OF THESE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS.